relearning the power clean

[naf7]

Coach, my power clean is a mess. I have tried relearning it a couple of times according to the progression in SS but as soon as the weight goes up, it gets bad again. I am hitting my thigh too low, the bar is too far from my body (can't touch my chest on the way up if I try, and I normally end up reverse curling it into rack position), and an experienced lifter at my gym says that I am not shrugging my traps hard enough or early enough. When I rack the bar my hips will very often be forward. Occasionally I even bend my arms on the way up although I can usually prevent this if I focus on it. I have always been an uncoordinated bastard. It took me a long while to get the form right on the slow lifts, but since they are slow, I eventually got them.

Ordinarily, I would just do what I have done in the past and move to a lighter weight and try to relearn again. However, I will be starting the advanced novice program after my current reset and would therefore only be cleaning every other week, which I doubt is often enough to relearn a movement. Should I program in some more power cleans, and if so, how? Should I move all the way back down to an empty bar? (I can get up to 140 with shitty form). Or, should I just say "fuck it" and do barbell rows until you come up to NYC for a BB cert?

[Mark Rippetoe]

The good news is that we'll be in NYC in July. The bad news is that July is 6 months away. A video might help in the meantime.

[Dopher]

However, I will be starting the advanced novice program after my current reset and would therefore only be cleaning every other week, which I doubt is often enough to relearn a movement. Should I program in some more power cleans, and if so, how?

In PPST it says you can practice lighter power cleans after you deadlift, making this a weekly exercise. That and aren't you cleaning for every set of an overhead press?

[Chris Puckett]

Hey Coach, that is great news, I want this to be my first cert. The NYC cert does not appear to be posted, can you provide us any details?

[Mark Rippetoe]

It's not posted yet because we only keep the next 6 up on the page. The dates are 7/18-19 at CFNYC: The Black Box. Should be on their website.

[Chris Puckett]

It's not posted yet because we only keep the next 6 up on the page. The dates are 7/18-19 at CFNYC: The Black Box. Should be on their website.

crap, I am going to be in Kauai for our annual vacation. This is the ONLY time I have ever regretted leaving Manhattan in July for Hawaii.